SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) saw off the Ghana National Team—who have already secured their place at next year’s FIFA World Cup 26™—with a composed 2–0 victory in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2025 on Friday 14 November at Toyota Stadium in Aichi. MINAMINO Takumi (AS Monaco) broke the deadlock with his 26th international goal, moving into joint eighth on Japan’s all-time scoring list, before DOAN Ritsu (Eintracht Frankfurt) added a second to seal the win.

With next June’s World Cup in North and Central America in sight, Japan made two changes to the side that defeated Brazil last month, bringing in HAYAKAWA Tomoki (Kashima Antlers) in goal and TANAKA Ao (Leeds United) in central midfield.

Elsewhere, the team retained UEDA Ayase (Feyenoord) as the lone striker, with KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad) and Minamino operating in the attacking midfield roles. Doan and NAKAMURA Keito (Stade de Reims) featured as wing-backs, SANO Kaishu (Mainz 05) partnered Tanaka in midfield as he had against Paraguay last month, and the back three consisted of WATANABE Tsuyoshi (Feyenoord), TANIGUCHI Shogo (Sint-Truidense VV), and SUZUKI Junnosuke (FC Copenhagen). .....

🎥𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦🎥

🏆キリンチャレンジカップ2025
🇯🇵SAMURAI BLUE 2-0 ガーナ代表🇬🇭

📅2025年11月14日
🏟️豊田スタジアム(愛知)#最高の景色を #SAMURAIBLUE#jfa #daihyo #サッカー日本代表

— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) November 15, 2025

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